Reader M.S. writes: Loved your detailed comparison between SSS and Shaffmaster; excellent breakdown of each one’s talents and vulnerabilities. I got turned on to the Gopher Vball only recently, SSS’s last couple yrs. (She was a phenom!) So I’m learning a lot on this blog, about D-1 volleyball and Gopher VB history.
I agree that Shaffmaster probably won’t attain SSS’s level, but it would be sweet to see her try. Do you think Shaffmaster’s relatively lackluster start (compared to our expectations) is because she’s a freshman trying to figure out her teammates? Or is that not really a consideration at this level of play?
Regarding the depth on this team, I’d hate to be in McCutcheon’s shoes trying to figure out a way to keep all that talent happy on the bench.
JOHN: Maybe it’s the delayed start to this 2020 season, but I know I’m guilty of expecting too much to soon from this freshman class, even if they were incredibly highly rated. Shaffmaster is THE setter of this 5th-rated Gopher squad that just won back-to-back matches at 13th-rated Purdue, looking absolutely brilliant during the closing runs of each of the 5th sets. So “lackluster” might be overly harsh. Probably more fair to judge her next December – after the conclusion of two full seasons.
I think most V-ball insiders would agree that the connections between setters and their middle-hitters are more challenging than those with left-side hitters. With left-sides, you just put the ball high and near the pin and let the left-sides find it; but a quick-set to a middle, or even a “slide,” requires precision timing. Left-sides have time to adjust; middles don’t. Shaffmaster enrolled at the U about this time last year, and had should have had a couple of months in the gym (without coaches, I think) and then another couple of months (August & December) with the coaches. But it’s not the same as live action. None of which explains how she and Pittman went 4 for 4 (really 5 for 5) in Saturday’s 5th set.